Clothes-cleaning machine.



A. L. NEVELS.

CLOTHES CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1909.

1,048,573. Emma 1130.31, 1912.

2 SHEETS 'SHEEP 2, -Fig 3. .Fly 4l. 32 J0 /6 l? yf//A T TORNE Y.

Unir-'ED STATES PATENTonirica;l

ANTHONY L. NEVELS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, Y'.lO WORCESTER NOVELVTYCOMPANY, VOF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A;

` c'LoT'Hns-CLEANING MACHINE.

Application med January 27, 1909: seriai No.

Be itzknown that I', ANTHONY, L. NEvELs,

a citizen :of theA United" States, an'tl a resident ol'TIart'f-ord', in the county of Hartford and Stateof Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Clothes-Cleaning Machine, of wb ich :the following isa specification.' M vf invention relates morefespecially to the class of m-achinesthat are locked to preventuse but which may be unlocked upon the performance ofcertain requirements, afterwhich unlocking the device may be usedffor the purpose required, andthe ob-A ject offtlieinvention'is to provide a device of'this' class 'having numerous novel features of advantage and utility. g

One'form of device in the vuse of which the above'object among others maybe at- 4taned i'sillustrat'ed in the accompanying 2o drawings, in which-A Ei'guiejl isfv view in front elevation par- ,ggftifllyfn section showing my improved appafrgttastefig; 2 is ajview. infside elevation pa'fittirlliy in sectfion of my improved cleaningfgmafifhief'n `these views the parts being stffinnin .the position occupied* when the jhaatiineis not/fin use. F'g; 3 is a view wshrxvinga portionof the mechanism and the.

/poistion *of the parts"4 with: the carrier held atelth'e'j'upperliniitfof its play, parts being orntted'for-'sake of lclearness.. Fig. 4 is a li but showing the'carrier released aii ntived'slightly from its 'uppermost posi# eertain-'partsf bein omitted "for sake of l clearnfes's. '#Figaj is a etail view in section thro'rgbtgheftrip lever and illustrating the construction of the dog borne thereon.-

In helac'companying drawings the' nul parts'of the mechanism. A ln'otorA Y'I,'pfffapyj'desired' construction," preferably elgotricts located wlthln thecaseand is arratigedft drive, an lagir Icurrent creating dey preferably 'andas vherein shown,` n' anexhaustger.- i This exhausterlis including a timing mechanism to bailar-enum described. The ,exhausr ima4 Specification of Letters Patent.

also'v tol drive other mechanism.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912. 474,625.

an outlet l2, in the specific construction herein-shown this being a tube opening into a dirt or dust receptacle 13 vwhich may be of any desired form and construction, and an inlet tube 14 is also connected with the exl hauster, this inlet tube extending upward within the box and-.havin a flexible tube 15 connected thereto. This exible tube extends around a sheave 16 and terminatesl in .a cleaning tool 17 located.without the box.

A carrier 18 is mounted upon guides 19 along which it freelyslides, said carrier supporting the sheave 16. .This carrier has a latch 20 pivotally secured at .oneiend to the carrier, the opposite end-ofthe latch projecting in position to engage a stop 21,

in the present instance the edge o-f an open-v ing formed through a coin chutev'l22, the

latter extending to the upper part of' the box and terminating in 'agnioutli-piece 23 The latch on the outer surface of the box. 2O extends into the coin chute (the latter preferably being cut away to receive it) to an extent to intercept a coin traveling along the chute, the coin resting` against a cam formation 24:at the-end of the latch. The latch is so located with reference'to the stop 21 that the carrier may have a limited up- Ward movement before the latch will encounter t-he stop, and the formation 24 is 'such and so located ,that as thecarrier is moved upward from itsposition of rest, if

a coin is located in the chute Yagainst the cam formation, the latter encountering said coin causes vthe latch to be swung outward so that it is not in line with ythe stop 21, and the carrier may therefore bexmoved upward.

In its position of rest, however, and without y a coin in the c'hute the latch serves to lock the carrier against movement, the latch being arranged to assume this 'locked position whenever the carrier is moved to vits lowermost position. An actuating '.trip 25 is alsoV pivotally mountedon thei'carrien'this trip I a tail 26 arranged to be'V engaged by Y- 4cuit by sticcessiveyin'ward movements of a of the lever.

-push button 29. The switch controls the supply of electric current to the motor 10 and thus its operation..

A catch 30 is pivotally mounted within the box to engage a. lug 3l on the carrier to hold it at the upper limit of itsl play. A spring holds the catch at one limit of its play and a catch actuating pin 33 is arranged' to move the catch out otl engagement with the lug 31. rlh'is catch `actuating pin is adjustably mounted in an actuating lever 35 whichv also bears a switch operating pin 34.

The actuating lever 35 is pivotally mounted within the box as on 'a bracl-:et 3G and is hold at' one limit of its swinging movement as by means of a spring 87. A lever operating pin 3S is mounted upon this leve-r, this pin being longitudinally adjustable in a support 3) which in'turn is adjustable longitudinally of the lever within a slot 40.

A trip lever 41 is pivotally mounted within the box as upon astandard 42, this trip lever having a shoulder 43 to retain the actuating lever' in position assumed during inaction of the machine and a shoulder44 to hold the lever in the position a'ssumed during action of the machine; these positions may he termed the inactive and active positions, respectively. Y

A dog 45 is mounted upon the trip lever 41, this dog being retained at one limit of its play as by a dog actuating spring 46. The dog has a limited swinging movement upon the lever 41, which movement is limited by the shoulder 47 -(see Fig. 5` of the drawings) `coming in contact with the edge This dog is arranged for engagement by a tooth 48 adjustably secured t0 an actuating disk 49. This actuating disk is mounted on the standard 42 and has a series of openings 50 within each of which the base for the tooth 48 may be secured, thus providing for the adjustable location of the tooth. The edge of the disk is formed as a. worm-Wheel meshing with a worm 51 on a shaft 52, which shaft is driven as by means of a worm 54 meshing with a worm- Wheel 54 said worm being operated by the motor and preferably secured to the shaft thereof.

In the operation of the `device a coin 55 of the proper denomination having been deposited Within the coin chute 22, the cleaning tool 17 is grasped and pulledoutward.

By reason of theliexible tube 15 passingv around the sheave 16 secured to the carrier, the latter is raised, the cam surface 24 contacting with the coin 55 causing the latchV lever operating pin 38, forcing the actuat.

lof the carrier brinfrs the luv 31 into en ave- D C D ing lever to one side andcausing engagef. nient oit the switclr voperating pin 34 with the push button 2t). This operation of the switch makes the electric circuit and starts the motor 10, which places the exhauster 11 in operation, causing a suction at the mouth of the cleaning tool 17.

As the lover 35 is swung as described the lug 56 at its lower end is moved to engage the shoulder 44 o n the trip lever 41, the latter being controlled by the intiuence of gravity, causing engagement of said dog and shoulder. This holds the-lever in the position 'to which it has thus been moved.

A continuance of the upward movement ment with the catchv 30 so that the carrier is now held in this position.

The operationA of the motor causes rotation of the shaft and the actuating disk 49. llhe connection between this disk and the motor is suchthat the parts may be arranged to provide for dilierent` intervals between the release of the latch. 20 from the stop 21 andv its rengagement therewith. This enables the machine to be set so that it iay be operatedl for different periods'of time. For instance, if a second tooth 48 be placed in the opening fydiametrically op-' posite the tooth shown in the drawings the operation Aof the machine will be for a pel riod of time one-half the length of that at which it will operate with the parts arranged asishown in the drawings, and the other holes Vprovide for the` use of other 10o teeth to provide for stilltdi'erent periods of time ofoperation, if such shall be desired. As the disk 49 rotates thetooth 48 comes in contact with the dog 45, swinging it on its pivot to one limit of its play 'and raising 1,05

the trip lever 41, disengaging-thelug 5.6 from the shoulder 44 and allowing the actuating lever 35 to be moved by the spring 37, in this movement the lug 56 engaging witlrthe shoulder43 and stopping the move-` 110 ment of the lever. As thlever is moved to this position the catch actuating-pim i lengages the catch 3 0 moving it Efrom en-C gagement with the lug 31 and allowingthe carrier to drop. In the downward-Inove- 115 ment of the carrier the actuating .trip 25 encountering the lever operating pin'" 38 causes said trip to'be .swung on its pivot and thus move'dott of the path of said4 operating pin. The actuating trip remainsfln 120' I this position until. the carrier has fpassedf.'

downward and ythe latch 20 isin position to lock the carrier against upwardwm've- 'ment After the parts have reachedy position the tai-l 26 encounters the setting 125 pin` 27 and moves vthe' trip to the. positlo'n 1 shown,in,1 `ig. -1. It `will thus be seenV that the 'carriermust be moved into av position. where itis llocked against upward movement before thecatch 25 is placed in 'posi- 1,30

tion to again operate the parts and set the machine in motion.

When the tooth 48 engages the dog 45 and releases the parts the operation is so quick as to sometimes stop the machine before the dog and tooth have passed one beyond the other, in which case were the dog 45 immovable on its support the trip lever 41 could not be moved dmvnward to engage the lug 5t) andhold the actuating lever 35 in its active position. lily allowing the dog 45 to have a limited swinging movement as the curved surfaces of the' dog and tooth come together and the trip lever is forced upward sutticiently, the friction between the parts decreases luntil the actuating spring 4G is powerful enough to move the dog 45 out of registering position with `the tooth 18.

In order to properly locate the end of the latch Q0 in the coin chute so that it. will operate only with the coin intended a tip 5T is provided to determine the position of the latch-and the cam formation Q4, which parts are so located and formed that a coin smaller in size than that intended to operate the machine will pass the latch and be delivered into the coin receptacle.

While the specific form of cleaning device shown aud described herein is a' suction device, with a tube through which air passes in the operation ofthe device, I do not limit myself to such form of cleaning tool and flexible connection, as other forms of cleaning device with other kinds of flexible connections for operating such cleaning devices may'be employed and yet be within the limits of the invention, and while the connection of the flexible member with the carrier is by means of a sheave around which thellexible connection extends, this permit ting withdrawal of the connection to an extent to permit use of the cleaning device, I do not limit my invention to such means of connection of the flexible member with the carrier, as other forms are contemplated by me as within the spirit and intent of the invention, .nor do I otherwise limit myself to the construction of mechanism shown herein which satisfactorilyv accomplishes the desired result, as such construction and arrangement may be departed from to a greater or lesser' extent without avoiding the invention.

I claim- 1. A casing, a tube for conveying a current of air, a cleaning tool secured to said tube, means within the casing for effecting flow of a current of air through said tube, movably-mounted means to retain the cleaning tool ,in inoperative position, connections between said means and the means for effecting flow of said air current to operate the latter, and a timing mechanism to control the time of operation of the current creating means.

rent ot air, a cleaning tool secured to the tube, means: within the casing for electing flow of a errent of air through said tube, mechanism to operate the means for effecting the flow o"s said air current, and a timing device to control the time of operation 'of the means tor tlecting flow of the current of air.

3. A casinif. means located within the casing for creating a current of air, a flexible tube to conduct said air current, said tube projecting out ol". the casing and being capable ot withdrawal therefrom, a. cleaning tool secured to said tube, means in engagement with the tube within the casing to hold said tnnc and tool against withdrawal, and means tor norn'niliy locking said tube engaging means against movement.

i, casing, means located within the casing 'or creating a current of air, a tube to contrari air rfurrent, one end of the tube proitcii ont of the casing, a cleaning tool connected to the projecting end of said tube, a rotating member engaged by the tube, and a locking member to prevent move# ment ot the rotating member and hence to prevent withdrawal of the tube.

A, easing, means located within the casing for creating a current of air, a carrier, a tube to conduct the air current., said tube projecting out, oi1 the casing, a sheave on the carrier, said siicave engaging the tube toy prevent or permit its withdrawal, a cleaning tool secured to said tube, and means for nor. mally lot the carrier againstfmovement.

6. A casing, means located in the casing for creating a current of air, a flexible tube to conduct said air current and having one end located without the casing, said tube being capable of withdrawal therefrom, a cleaning tool connected to the outer end of said tube, a locking member to prevent withdrawal of the tube and movable to unlock it to permit its withdrawal, means for drawingr the tube ,into the case, and a timing` device connected to determine the time of operation of said drawing in means.

7. A. casing, means located in the casing for creating a current of air, a tube connected with said current creating means to con- ,duct said air current, said tube projecting out" of the casing and being capable of Withdrawal therefrom, a cleaning device secured to said tube, means to prevent Withdrawal of the tube from the casing, a device for actuating the current creating means, locking means arranged to control Withdrawal of the tube, and means for starting the operation of said actuating means upon the withdrawal of said tube.

8. A casing, means located in the casing for creating a current of air, means for aotuating the current creating means, a tube connected to said current creating means to conduct said air current, said tube projecting out of the casing and being capable of withdrawal therefrom, a cleaning tool seein-ml to said tube, means to prevent withdrawal ol the tube from the casing, a tube locking member movable to permit. Withdrawal of the tube, mechanism for timing the period of lloiv of current in said tool, and mechanism `tor starting the operation of said actuating means and said timing means after Withdrawal of the tube.

9. A casing, means located within the casing for c reating a current of air, a tube to conduct said air current, said tube having a flexible portion forming a loop `and having one end projecting out of the casing, a cleaning tool secured to the tube, means in enA gagement with the tube and arranged to allow its withdra val ,trom and its return within the casing, a lock for and connected with said returning means, a timing mechanism, and connections between the timing mechanism and tube returning mcairfy to control the time of operation of the latter.

l0. A casing, means located Within the casing for creating a current of air, guides within the casing, a carrier movable on the guides, a sheave mountedon the carrier, means to lock the carrier in one position, a tube passing around said sheave and having one end connected with the current creating means and its opposite end projecting out of the casing, said tube being held in the casing by the sheave when the carrier is locked, a cleaning tool secured to the free end of said tube, means for retaining the carrier in unlocked position, and a timing device arranged to release the carrier from said retaining means.

11. A casing, a cleaning device located without the casing, operating mechanism located within the casing, a flexible connection between said operating mechanism and cleaning device, and means Within the Qnsing tor holding said cleaning device in inoperative position, said means being adapted tor release to permit removal of the device from said inoperative position.

' 12. A casing, a cleaning device located without the casing, operating mechanism located within the casing, a liexible connection between the operating mechanism and said cleaning device, a carrier, a slieave carried therebyY and engaged by said connection, and means for normally locking the carrier to hold the cleaning device against movement.

A casing, means for creating a. current of air, a cleaning tool, a tube connecting the current creating means and the cleaning tool, means located Within the casing for locking the tool in a non-usabile position, and adapted to be released to permit movement of the tool to a usable position, and a timing device -t'or controlling the period of operation of said air current creating means.

l-l. A casing, means for creating a current of air, a cleaning tool,- a -tube connecting the current creating means and the cleaning tool, means located within the casing for normally retaining the tool against movement, said means being movable to permit the tool to be used, a timing device to control the period of operation of the tool when said means has been moved from its normal position, and mechanism for returning the tool and said means to normal position upon completion of said period.

15. A casing, means for creating current oflair, a movable cleaning tool operably-connected with the current creating means, and means within the casing for normally retaining the cleaning tool in fixed position to prevent cleaning use.

i i THONY L. NEVELS.

litnesses SIDNEY S. Gno'r'rA, ARTHUR B. JENKINS. 

